My Mother's Secret - A Sequel To The Summer of 1993

He's Two

I worked in the background and we got mom's utility bills transferred to Johnny and his team. It would help mom a lot. I told her it was a government program and s qualified and she said, "I fucking hate I am one of those people." It also kept Johnny in the loop about mom.   He still cared for her.   He said, "I can't let him go through what you went through.   If thugs were different, I may have pursued your mom."  However, things were not.   Bobby seemed to like Paw Power, a show about dogs who solved crimes, and the theme was that.  Dad went all out for that as well. He tried, but he looked haggard and tired that day.   I think all the rot gut vodka was getting to him.   He looked older that day.  Frail.  

   The fire hall looked like a Paw Power Convention.  Johnny chipped in $2000.  Johnny wantedlots of pictures.  We were speaking. He ghosted me sometimes, Mom and I worked on the hall all night, even with the uncle and aunt in a playpen.  Joey looked like Johnny but had one brown and blue eye.  He was really beautiful.   He was pleasant,  even being born in a house full of turmoil.   Dad was trying hard to swallow his pride.   Dad was look older and more tired, but he was close to his mid fifties.   Mom looked heavy but she had been emotionally eating a lot.  I think she missed Johnny more than she admitted.  

      "Ma, have you heard from Johnny?"  I asked.
"Not really.   We kind of thought it was best."
"Yeah, I understand."
"And I don't want YOU interfering this time."  
"I know.  Dad looks tired."
"I hope he stays alive.  I cannot handle Mr. Jardins chasing after me."
"Mom, he is just creepy."
"It is all I am good for."
"Mom, you are NOT!  Even last summer you had Johnny all over you."
"I was cheaper than an escort. He was high."
"C'mon mom. Stop!"

   I hated when she was like this....   
   
    I drove her home.   She had me come In for a bit as she has something for Brielle and Bobby.  He has a suit and she and a dress.   She put Joey  down in her room and I went to see dad.   He looked like miles of bad road.  He said he had a lot of Paw Power things for "his grandson", but "that baby who lives in the house"....   I guess they had "a discussion"that Joey was HER baby and she had to care for it, feed it, wake up with it.  I sort of thought it was shitty.  Mom even told me, "if it bothers him so much, the street is there."   I think dad needed her and was afraid to no's himself and he had a boy toadies. Sometimes, and wrongly so, I wished he would leave so mom could be free.

The next day it was cold and snowy. Mom was grouchy. I guess Joey was hungry all night and she was up with him. Dad was drunk. Jackie and Tom were sort of distant. She was embarassed of mom, dad, me, Sam, and the whole shebang. She wanted to marry and get to Chicago. It was a good day though of friends and family. It was a day of love. Even mom and dad seemed to get along. Sam's parents got him a really cool wooden toy wagon. He has a good day. Mom was tired though. She fell asleep as soon as she got home. She worked really hard. Dad said she was out like a light. She was snoring lightly. She and Johnny snored. They were really made for each other than dad and mom. There was a love there and I knew deep in my heart they were made for each other.   However, it was not happily ever after yet....